2. Communication Skills: Why they are important within an HND Programme.

3. The Journey: developing learners from directed to independent learners
preparing learners for progression to further study
providing an opportunity for learners to develop their English language skills
increasing learners’ confidence

4. Developments in Communication
H7TK 34 Communication: Business Communication (SCQFLevel 7) replaces DE3N 34 Communication: Analysing and Presenting Complex Communication and from August centres will deliver the new unit: H8T2 33 Workplace Communication in English (SCQF level 6)

5. Developments in Communication
All new entries after 31/7/15 should be for the unit: Communication: Business Communication H7TK 34 (SCQF level 7)
The Assessment Support Pack for this new unit will be available on the secure web pages listing all Assessment Support Packs from August 2015.

6. Two additional HN units
Workplace Communication in English H8T2 33 (SCQF level 6)
This is a lower level unit that prepares students for
Communication: Business Communication.
(SCQF level 7)
Research Skills F60A 34
This can be delivered as a forerunner to a project
based Graded Unit or can be delivered throughout
HND Year 2 simultaneously with any project based
Graded Unit.
Workplace Communication in English to be delivered first.
The Research unit can either be delivered in the first semester as a forerunner to a project based Graded Unit or can be delivered throughout HND year 2 simultaneously with any project based Graded Unit. The Quality enhancement Plan refers to: supporting students in the transition from directed to independent learning and importantly prepares learners for progression to further study (post HND)

7. Workplace Communication in English H8T2 33 (SCQF level 6)
Summarise and evaluate written information on a complex vocational issue.
Produce written information on a complex vocational issue.
Produce and respond to oral communication on a complex vocational issue.

8. Outcome 1: Summarise and evaluate written information on a complex vocational issue.
Break the class into groups of 4/5
Each group is tasked with finding an article of interest from a newspaper or magazine on a business topic.
Each group is set the following questions to answer:
What is the purpose of this article?
Say what the article is about, summarising the key points.
Say why you would recommend this to your classmates in 200 words.
Try this activity.

9. Outcome 2:Produce written information on a complex vocational issue.
Instead of submitting a single 800 word report,
candidates may produce a folio of at least 3 vocationally
relevant documents which present and examine
information and ideas amounting to a minimum of 800
words on complex vocational issues.
For example:
An investigative report of 500 words
Meeting papers, notice of meeting, agenda, minutes words
Business /letter words
The Investigative Report is good preparation for the Business Graded Unit 2 – the project.

10. The Investigative Report
There are various report styles but whatever is agreed upon should be in formal business-like language.
Example: A Report Outline
Front Cover - the title of the report, your name and date
Contents page
Introduction - state the purpose, say who has requested it and submission date
Procedures - state 2 or 3 methods you will carry out
Findings - this section must contain facts only
Conclusions - summation based on what was found out
Recommendations - list possible solutions/action points

11. Outcome 3: Produce and respond to oral communication on a complex vocational issue
plan a contribution to a formal discussion
speak clearly and audibly
organise and present information clearly
use appropriate tone, pace and body language
listen to others and respond in a way which encourages communication
complete a written record of the discussion
make clear that this is an example of what can be undertaken and that it does not need to be a discussion

12. Assessment Guidelines for Outcome 3
Each candidate must make a sustained spoken contribution of at least 5 minutes. Each candidate should make brief planning notes and a record of proceedings such as action minutes. Brief written records such as an outline agenda and action minutes must be accurate and suitable for wider distribution. A recording and/or observation checklist should be completed for each candidate.
For information: use the investigative report as the theme for Outcome 3 Talking. The notice of meeting, minutes, agenda, etc from Outcome 3 can form part of the folio for outcome 2 Writing.

13. Why English can be so challenging.
Did you know there are nine different ways to pronounce ‘ough’ in English?

14. This sentence contains all of them:
‘A rough-coated, dough-faced, thoughtful ploughman strode through the streets of Scarborough; after falling into a slough, he coughed and hiccoughed.’
Falling into a sloo

15. Test your knowledge of English
Is this grammatically correct? I would like to briefly make a point.
Change the following into the negative form in 3 different ways. He must leave right away.
Think of 5 ways of changing this into the future. She arrived at 6 pm.
Which is more correct? I have just seen her. or I just saw her.
Is this correct? She didn’t used to smoke.
Yes
i. He must not leave right away ii. He cannot leave right away iii. He does not have to leave right away
i. She will arrive at 6pm. ii. She arrives at 6pm. iii. She will be arriving at 6pm. iv. She is going to arrive at 6pm. v. She is arriving at 6pm.
“I have just seen her.” – (“I just saw her” is correct in American English but not British English
No – “She didn’t use to smoke.”

16. Answers
Yes
i. He must not leave right away ii. He cannot leave right away iii. He does not have to leave right away
i. She will arrive at 6pm. ii. She arrives at 6pm. iii. She will be arriving at 6pm. iv. She is going to arrive at 6pm. v. She is arriving at 6pm.
“I have just seen her.” – (“I just saw her” is correct in American English but not British English
No – “She didn’t use to smoke.”

17. Some websites to try out

18. And finally...
“The word 'good' has many meanings. For example, if a man were to shoot his grandmother at a range of five hundred yards, I should call him a good shot, but not necessarily a good man.”
Gilbert K. Chesterton